Frame for articles of various sizes



Dec. 23, 1969 KORWIN FRAME FOR ARTICLES OF VARIOUS SIZES Filed April 5. 1967 FlG.-3

INVENTOR. IRVING KORWIN AT TORNEYS United States Patent US. CI. 63-19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The article frame comprises an ornamental backplate which is substantially larger in diameter than the largest article to be framed, and which has angularly spaced spirally directed slots each extending from the minimum to the maximumradius of the articleswhich are to be framed. There are also some three or four narrow retainer rings of different diameter, and one is selected to fit the particular article being framed. The retainer ring has a plurality of flat tongues which pass rearward through the slots in the backplate, and which are bent behind the backplate to secure these'parts together with the articles therebetween.

Heretofore coin frames have been designed for a particular size coin. Some small variation has been available by using a split ring with a takeup screw. The present coin frame accommodates a wide range of coin sizes.

For this purpose the coin frame comprises an ornamental backplate which is substantially larger in diameter than the largest coin to be framed. This has a plurality of angularly spaced slots directed outwardly from points corresponding to the minimum radius to points crrespending to the maximum radius of the coins to be framed. There are a number of narrow retainer rings of different diameter, and one is selected which fits the particular coin being framed. The retainer ring has flat tongues extending rearward, these being located and dimensioned to pass through the slots and to be bent behind the backplate to secure the retainer ring to the backplate with a coin therebetween. For this purpose, the slots in the backplate are spiral slots, preferably disposed at an angle such that they are more nearly tangential than radial.

The foregoing and additional features are described in the following detailed specification, which is accompanied by a drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the coin frame used as a pendant, the coin itself being omitted in order to better show the frame;

FIG. 2 is a section drawn to larger scale, and taken on the angular line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the smallest retainer ring in solid lines, and the largest retainer ring in broken lines; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the coin frame comprises an ornamental backplate 12, which is substantially larger in diameter than the largest coin to be framed. The backplate has an eye 14 secured thereto, by means of which it may be suspended on a suitable cord or chain 16. In other cases the backplate may be provided with a releasable pin extending across the back, so that it may be Worn as a brooch. Such a pin, and the eye 14 shown, are here referred to generically as a means for suspension of the coin frame.

The backplate 12 has a plurality of angularly spaced slots 20. At their inner ends these slots correspond to the radius of the smallest coin to be framed, and at their 3,485,061 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 ice outer ends they correspond to the radius of the largest coin to be framed. For a reason explained later, the slots 20 are spiral rather than radial, and in preferred form they are disposed at an angle which is more nearly tangential than radial.

The coin frame furthercomprises a narrow retainer ring 22. These rings are provided in different sizes ranging from minimum to maximum. The ring 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is of medium size.

The retainer ring is preferably drawn to a somewhat L-shaped cross section, best shown in FIG. 2. It then comprises a retainer part 24 which holds a coin 26, and a generally cylindrical spacer part 28, which corresponds approximately to the thickness of the coin 26. There are also a plurality of flat tongues 30 extending integrally rearward from the cylindrical spacer part 28. These tongues are equal in number and in angular spacing to the slots 20, and the tongues are dimensioned to pass through the slots. They are bent behind the backplate, as indicated by the change from the broken line position 30 to the solid line position 30 in FIG. 2. They may be bent outward or inward.

Thus referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the coin 32 is of minimum diameter, and the retainer ring 34 is correspondingly small. The tongues 36 are shown bent inward from the broken line position 36' in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3 a retainer ring of maximum diameter is shown in broken lines at 40. This has tongues one of which is shown bent outward at 42.

When utilizing the smallest or the largest retainer ring the slots 20 could be radial, and in such case the tongues of the small ring would necessarily be bent inward, and the tongues of the large ring would necessarily be bent outward. However, difficulty would arise when using a retainer ring of intermediate diameter. If the tongue were bent flatwise, that is, radially in the direction of easy bending, it would not hold, or alternatively, the tongues would have to be bent sideward or edgewise, which would be most difficult.

However, by making the slots 20 spiral, the tongues may be bent fiatwise or in radial direction, and yet will hold behind the backplate. For this purpose it is desirable that the spiral slots be disposed at a large angle away from the radial direction, or differently expressed, that the slots be disposed to extend longitudinally in a direction which is more nearly tangential than radial. As a result, the spiral slots comprise segments which at a point thereof extend outwardly from the point at an angle less than 45 relative to a tangent to a circle drawn through the point with its center at the center on the backplate about which all of the slots are arranged.

The backplate here shown has an aperture 44 at the center. It is shown serrated for improved appearance when the coin frame is being examined before framing a coin therein. The aperture is not at all essential, but is sometimes a convenience when removing a previously framed coin. It also saves metal, which is desirable when the coin frame is made of solid gold. The spiral disposition of the slots also is somewhat more ornamental than simple radial slots would be. The backplate 12 as illustrated in the drawing has an ornamental bent edge, and in practice the front face within that edge is ornamented, as by means of a very large number of closely spaced diamond-scored radial lines. These have been omitted to simplify the drawing. The front face is preferably concave, for better appearance and to help conceal the rear edge of the retainer ring.

The coin frame shown has four spiral slots and four tongues received therein, and this is a preferred number, but a greater or lesser number could be employed.

It will be understood that the ornamental backplate may have a shape other than that shown. It will also be understood that while it is most common to frame a shown and described the invention in a preferred form,

changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The reference to a coin frame is not intended to exclude the framing of some other circular jewelry item. The reference to suspension means is not intended to exclude the equivalent use of a pin.

I claim:

1. A frame for supporting an article comprising a backplate, a retainer ring having a plurality of tongues projecting outwardly therefrom, means effective for operatively connecting said retainer ring to said backplate to hold an article therebetween, said means comprising a plurality of slots extending through said backplate and arranged about a center on said backplate, said slots being dimensioned to receive said tongues on said'retainer ring, said tongues being dimensioned to pass through said slots and to be bent behind the backplate to secure the retainer ring to the backplate with the article therebetween, each of said slots extending between first and second positions on said backplate, said first and second positions associated with each said slot being on diiferent radii from said center, said first positions being relatively close to and said second positions being relatively remote from said center on said backplate, whereby said slots are arranged to receive tongues on rings of various sizes, thereby to enable said frame to support articles of various sizes.

2. A frame as defined in claim 1, in which the slots through the backplate are spiral slots, so that the tongues of the retainer ring may be readily bent in a radial direction and yet secure said ring to said backplate.

3. A frame as defined in claim 2, in which the spiral slots comprise segments which, at a point thereon, extend outwardly from said' point at an angle less than 45 relative to a tangent to a circle drawn through said point with the center of said circle substantially at said backplate center, said ring being positioned with its center substantially superimposed upon said backplate center.

4. The frame as defined in claim 3, in which there are four equally spaced slots through the backplate and four tongues on said retainer ring.

5. A frame as defined in claim 3, in which said retainer ring has a substantially L-shaped section to provide aretainer part and a generally cylindrical spacer part, and in which said tongues. extend outwardly from the cylindrical part.,

, A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 972,807 10/1910 Brant 6329 1,758,232 5/1930 Lockwood 40 1o X 1,767,993 6/1930 Lorenz. 2,339,364 1/1944 Thomas 40-1.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 553,268 2/1923 France.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 40 10 

